When you’re torn between having a life and a career at home and the urge to pack everything up and travel the world, you need to strike a balance when it comes to accommodation.
If you’re like me and try and make the most out of your annual leave and leave the country as much as possible, the likelihood of being able to stay in five star mega-plush hotels all around the world is pretty slim. Then again, you also don’t want to be sleeping in a tent on the side of a road. This is where the likes of hostels and Airbnbs come in.
I know a lot of people turn up their noses when it comes to hostels, but just because they’re budget doesn’t mean they’re bad.
Look at it this way: if you’re away for three days/two nights and plan on spending your whole day out and only need somewhere to lay your head, a shared room in a hostel isn’t a bad situation. Especially when a lot of them in major cities cost less per night than a main meal.
Understandably, many people don’t like the idea of sharing a room with strangers and equally don’t like sharing bathrooms. Most hostels have private rooms with private bathrooms, although the cost of them do vary depending on how popular the place is.
A couple of years back, I ventured on my first long-haul solo trip to Bali and booked into a hostel. When I told people, I was given looks of “Really? You’re going all that way and you're staying in a hostel?" but believe me when I say it wasn't a regular hostel. The hostel I stayed in, Cara Cara Inn in Kuta, had a rooftop pool, a bar in a camper van and, most importantly, private rooms for £15 a night with a bathroom and breakfast. As I said, budget definitely does not mean bad!
The other thing which comes with hostels is the social aspect. If you’re by yourself, staying in a hostel gives you a lot of opportunities to meet new people. Whether it's the hostel bar, on tours organised by the hostel or just chatting while you're waiting for your toast to brown, there's plenty of opportunities to meet new people. While in Bali, I met a few people just by sitting around the pool who I ended up going out for meals with, doing shopping trips and heading exploring with. Just because you’re solo doesn’t mean you have to be lonely.
When it comes to finding a bargain, like most things, never be afraid to shop around. When looking for accommodation in Sri Lanka, I opted mainly for hostels, however, I came across some beautiful properties on Booking.com which didn’t apply extortionate single supplement fees. While I may not be travelling to Sri Lanka due to the Coronavirus pandemic, I am still incredibly proud of myself for finding a stunning deluxe mud chalet in Tissamaharama for £25 a night including breakfast. In total, I was looking at £170 for ten days accommodation with only one night in a shared room.
Similarly, Airbnb can offer up some good bargains, but as the demand grows for these private properties, the prices tend to increase. It can sometimes cost more to stay in an AirBnB than in a hotel without the benefits of inclusive breakfast!
Would you stay in a hostel on your next trip? I would very much recommend it!
